Repeating Annotations and backwards compatibility

[Remi Forax]

On 09/13/2012 06:04 PM, Paul Benedict wrote:
> I just read the archives and find that "looking through" the grouping
> annotation is awkward. However, I also agree with Joel that we "shouldn't
> make the source-to-reflection gap bigger."

While I may agree with this if it's free, the main issue is that the 
current design come with a price,
you can retrofit repeated annotations and their container only if they 
are declared in the same library
(at least under the control of the same group of people).

I've seen code to add a container annotation to javax.jws.WebService so 
I suppose that
several projects have come along the same path for annotations that 
already exist in Java SE/EE world.

Rémi